Page 36 of Thorns of Silence

I rose to my tiptoes to nuzzle his neck, my lips brushing the skin, and inhaled his scent deep into me. Before I realized what I was doing, my lips moved over his neck, kissing, licking, then sucking his jugular.

It was a familiarity that was like a punch in my gut, but this wasn’t about my depraved desires. This was about setting boundaries. So I’d do what was necessary to get the point across.

I reached for the mace in my purse. A rush of endorphins roared through my system, but I ignored them. My thumb flicked the switch, then in one motion, with his hands still around me, I closed my eyes and sprayed him in the face.

“What thefuck—” His hand dropped from my body.

I took three steps away, pushing off of him. His jaw clenched. His eyes were rapidly turning red.

Then, without time to waste, I turned around and disappeared into the darkness.

FIFTEEN

DANTE

This. Woman.

She’d either be my greatest love or my biggest downfall. There’d be nothing in between. Not when it came to Phoenix Romero.

When she touched me, I just about lost it. It had been fucking months—years—since I’d felt anything but pain, but when her mouth pressed against my neck, the pain melted. In its place was peace, warmth… something familiar that I couldn’t name.

My knees almost buckled, the need to get down on them and beg her to kiss me, touch me,anythingwas so overwhelming.

As long as she didn’t leave me.

I stood there blinded by mace, not comprehending her viciousness toward me. I’d seen her with other people while I followed her like a creep. She was pure sweetness and smiles for everyone else.

Although she did kiss me,I thought victoriously. If her lips on my neck were enough to get me hard, I couldn’t even imagine how good it would feel to have her naked body pressing against mine.

The warm night felt even hotter with the burning I felt on my face. My pain tolerance wasn’t what you’d call normal. Something tripped in my brain two years ago, and while I didn’t remember my capture, I knew that my threshold for pain was no longer the same. Unfortunately, my eyeballs refused to see through pepper spray.

I blinked, and all I got was blurriness.

The buzz of the city was all around me. I could risk making my way to my flat, but I’d probably get run over by some Parisian.

I pulled out my phone. “Call Cesar,” I grumbled into the speaker.

I sure as fuck wouldn’t stand here until this fucking burning ceased.

“Boss.”

“Pick me up at Champs-Élysées, a street away from Place de la Concorde. Come in a car, alone.” I didn’t need to be explaining this shit to Amon. He was all wrapped up in the blonde sister and would probably demand I didn’t upset her by stalking Phoenix.Well, no can do.

I ended the call, then fumbled as I asked Siri to dial up a bakery that was known for the best croissants in the city. I might as well make myself useful while I stood here blindly.

She might be giving me hell, but I’d give her chocolate croissants and then maybe she’d be nicer to me the next time she saw me.Fat chance. But I was nothing if not persistent.

Five minutes later, I had a delivery lined up for tomorrow morning and was hanging up just as Cesar pulled up.

“You look like shit,” he deadpanned, although he must be still in the car since I didn’t hear the doors open or close.

“Still better looking than you,” I drawled. “Now, would you open the door for me so I’m not walking around with my hands up in the air?”

I could hear his snort from here. “Sure thing, princess. Coming right up.”

Would it be too reckless to pull out my gun and shoot him right here? I could blame it on a temporary bout of insanity. Father would go ballistic—added bonus. Amon would be annoyed. I sighed.

Looked like I’d be sparing Cesar for Amon’s sake.